Mouse-trap.



J. E. BIGELOW.

MOUSE TRAP.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 27. 1912.

1,121,787. Patented Dec. .22, 1914.

WITNESSES THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTD-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. D. C.

JOHN E. BIGELOW, or PANA, ILLINOIS.

MOUSE-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

Application filed November 27, 1912. Serial No. 733,890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. BIGELow, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pana, in the county of Christian and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mouse-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates broadly to the class of mouse traps andmore particularly to an improved device of this character wherein the rodent iselectrocuted and consequently instantly killed.

An object of my invention is to provide a device of this character wherein are disposed a pair of pivoted contact plates, which serve as a platform upon which the mouse has to travel before reaching the bait. As the body of the mouse connects the two plates he will be instantly electrocuted, at the same time the pivoted plates are released allowing his body to drop into a suitable receptacle provided therefor.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for automatically releasing the plates as soon as the circuit is completed.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for automatically returning the plates to place after the rat has been dropped into the receptacle above mentioned.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for limiting the upward and downward movement of the plates.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention relates to such details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of the several parts as will be hereinafter fully described and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the sev eral views, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention showing the screen attached removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of my invention showing in dotted lines the plates in an operated position in a manner in which the mouse will drop therefrom. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the means for releasing the plates. Fig. 4: is another detail view illustrating the pivoted slide, which allows the plates to return into their normal position however preventing their downward move ment until the circuit is completed.

In the accompanying drawings wherein as illustrated the preferred form of my in- I tive metal.

ter having cleats 20 mounted thereon whereby the rat may easily walk upon same. The

upper portion of the body is covered by a screen top 1a whereby the mouse cannot enter except by the open end and consequently he will have to walk upon the contact plates. Shafts 15 arejournaled through the side portions 10, the shaft being preferably formed of metal, they having electrical conductors 16 and 17 connected thereto as is clearly shown. The contact plates are designated in the drawings by the numeral 18 and carry brackets 19 at their under side for engagement with the shaft 15. The plates are preferably constructed of copper while the brackets 19 are also of a conducare disposed a slight distance apart, so that at this point the electrical circuit is broken. Rubber blocks 13 are secured to the upper end of the inclined plane 12, and near the upper extremity of a cross piece 21 whereby the outer ends of the contact plates rest thereon when they are in their normal position. Means in the form of weights 22 are also provided near the rear ends of the contact plates whereby the said plates are normally held in their usual position.

It will now be recognized thatas the rat walks upon the two plates the weight of his body counter-balances and supersedes the weights 22 whereby the plates Will move into position shown in Fig. 2 by dotted lines their downward movement being controlled by studs 23 as is clearly shown.

Consistent with the foregoing remarks,

The inner ends of the plates 1 means has been provided for normally holdf ing the plates 18 in their uppermost position, and in that position while the mouse is upon one plate. However as soon as his body connects the two plates they are released so that they. move into position shown by dotted lines in Fig.2. These means comprises a trigger 24 carried upon a substantially U-shaped bracket 25 the latter carrying tongues 26 so that the trigger is normally held in the same plane as the bracket.

The lower inner edge of the trigger 24: is beveled as shown at 2 1. The U-shaped bracket is supported upon one ofv the sides 10 through the medium of arms 27 whereby the bracket may move rearwardly thereon.

For the purpose of returning the trigger 24 to its normal position, I have provided a coil spring 27 one end of which is attached to the arm 27 and its opposite end engaged upon the armature 30. It will now be appreciated that when the circuit between the plates 18 is closed the trigger 2 1 will be Withdrawn from engagement with the plates 18 consequently allowing them to move into position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. As soon as the body of the mouse drops from the plates however the circuit is again broken the trigger 2% moving into its normal position. They will strike the beveled edge 24 of the trigger 2+1, thus forcing the same rearwardly thereby allowing the plates to be seated. It will be understood that the force exerted by the weights 2:2, will overcome the tension of the spring 27 One end 327 of a bell crank lever has engagement with the bracket 25 the other end being pivoted upon a support as shown at 28. The end 29 of the lever acts as an armature an electromagnet 30 being provided adjacent thereto. The electromagnet is supported upon the sides 10 through the medium of brackets 81 as is clearly shown it having a conductor 32 connected thereto while a conductor 16 extends therefrom and has connection with one of the shafts 15. Another conductor 17 has connection with the other shaft 15, the first and last named conductors to be connected to a suitable source of power having connection with the conductor 33. It will be appreciated that when the magnet 30 is excited the armature 29 will be drawn into engagement therewith moving the trigger 2 1 rearwardly and releasing the plates 18.

The operation of my invention may be as follows :A rat walking upon one'of the plates 18, in search of the bait 33 carried upon a platform 31 steps upon the edge of both plates, consequently closing the electrical circuit before mentioned. The circuit being closed, the electromagnet 30 is excited which will draw the armature 29 into engagement therewith and release the trigger from engagement with the plates 18. As soon as the trigger is released the body of the rat or mouse moves the plates into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 thereby allowing the body of the mouse to drop into a suitable receptacle (not shown). As the body of the rat or mouse drops from the plates the circuit will again be broken whereby the armature will assume its usual position consequently moving the trigger into its former place. The plates 18 will also move again to their usual position and because of this the trigger 24 has been pivoted to allow them to lock the same as is clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The greatest of stress is laid upon the simplicity of my invention and it is thought that the novel features and advantages of the same will be readily recognized from the disclosure appearing hereinbefore.

I desire it to be understood that I may make slight changes in the construction and in the arrangement and combination of the several parts, provided such changes fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, a body portion, a pair of contact plates pivotally mounted in said body portion, an electro-magnet secured to said body portion, an armature disposed adjacent said magnet, an arm connected to one end of said armature, a. trigger secured to said arm, the lower inner edge of said trigger being beveled, and means for supporting said trigger in a horizontal position, said trigger normally disposed beneath the outer edges of said plates, a circuit including said plates, magnet, and armature for causing said trigger to move in a horizontal plane, thereby releasing said plates, and means upon the inner ends of said plates for returning the same to their normal position.

2. In a device of the character described comprising a body portion, a bait holding receptacle on one end of said body portion, an inclined plane secured to the other end of said body portion, a cover for said body portion, said cover having its end adjacent said inclined plane removed, a pair of shafts journaled adjacent the end of said body portion, a pair of contact plates pivotally mounted on said shafts, blocks secured to the upper end of said plates for holding said plates in a level position, an electromagnet secured to said body portion, an armature disposed adjacent said magnet, an arm connected to one end of said armature, a. trigger secured to said arm, the lower inner edge of said trigger being beveled, a bracket for supporting said trigger in a horizontal position, said trigger normally disposed beneath the edges of said plates, a circuit including said plates, magnet, and armature for causing said trigger to move in a horizontal plane thereby releasing said plates, stops secured to the sides of said body portion for limiting the downward movement of said plates and weights secured to the rear end of said plates for re turning said plates to their normal position JOHN E. BIGELOW.

lVitnesses Orro M. GLIoK, D. D. R CHE.

Gama a t e ra -it may be a tain d f five cent we t v eilw i s the i m i sicmr e5 Est mwcamactea 5% a 

